Tritantaichmes (rebel)

Tritantaichmes ( Old Persian: Ciçantakhma ; † 521 BC in Arbela ) was a self-proclaimed king of the Sagartians in the late 6th century BC. He was one of the eight so-called "kings of lies" who had risen against the seizure of power by Darius I.

The Behistun inscription with relief. Tritantaichmes can be seen here as the eighth figure from the left, the fifth of the subjugated opponents of Darius I, who judges them.

After the death of the Persian great king Cambyses II and the overthrow of the short-term regent Bardiya / Gaumata by Dareios I in 522 BC. Revolts broke out in several provinces of the Persian Achaemenid Empire . The Medes, too, had risen under the leadership of Phraort , but were defeated on May 8, 521 BC. BC at Kunduruš near Bisutun decisively defeated.

Tritantaichmes was probably a follower of the Phraort and continued the rebellion after its end. He belonged to the tribe of the Sagartier , who belonged to the tribal confederation of the Medes . Like Phraortes before, Tritantaichmes had announced a descent from the old Median ruling house and proclaimed himself king in Sagartia . However, he was still in the summer of 521 BC. BC by the Persian general Takhmaspada, who himself was a native Medes, defeated in a battle and taken prisoner. Before Darius I, his nose, ears and tongue were cut off and his eyes gouged out in order to be crucified in Arbela .

source

• Behistun-Inscription (DB), plate 2, §33 in: Roland G. Kent, Old Persian-Grammar Texts Lexicon . American Oriental Society, 1953.

literature

• Pierre Briant : From Cyrus to Alexander. A History of the Persian Empire. Eisenbrauns, Winona Lake 2002, pp. 114-122.